Overhead track for cars, aircraft, and the like



Marh Z, 1937. H. FRASER 2,072,499

ovEfiHEAD RACK FOR CARS, AIRCRAFT, AND THE LIKE Filed June 20, 1934 4 Sheetsi-Sheet 1 H. FRASER 2,072,499?

RAFT, AND THE LIKE Filed Jun e 20, 1954 March 2, 1937.

OVERHEAD TRACK FOR CARS, AIR

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 2, H. FRASER OVERHEAD TRACK FOR CARS, AIRCRAFT, AND THE LIKE Filed June 20, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 H. FRASER 2,072,499

OVERHEAD TRACK FOR CARS, AIRCRAFT, AND THE LIKE March 2, 1937.

Filed June 20, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gfflenTal? Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES OVERHEAD TRACK FOR CARS, AIRCRAFT, AND THE LIKE Hugh Fraser, Burnside, Rutherglen, Scotland, assignor to Inter-Counties Limited, Glasgow,

Scotland Application June 20, 1934, Serial No. 731,555 In Great Britain March 8, 1934 1 Claim.

This invention relates to overhead tracks or railways for cars, aircraft and the like suspended therefrom.

The invention is particularly, but not exclu- 5 sively, applicable to a system of overhead transport as set forth in United States Patent No. 1,459,495 in which a car is suspended from an overhead rigid track and is guided by a rigid track below the car.

One of the objects of the invention is to devise means whereby a car can be switched from a main track to a branch track or siding and vice versa without stopping the travel of the car.

Another object of the invention is to devise suit- 15 able means for interlocking the switching means with the fixed tracks or sidings.

A further object of the invention is to devise suitable means whereby the switching means cannot be operated when they are interlocked.

One form of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is an elevation of the structure.

Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1 showing the locking mechanism but with various other portions of the structure removed.

Figure 3 is an end view of the rotatable structure.

Figure 4 is a detail of the mechanism operating the locking means.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the locking means on an enlarged scale.

Figure 6 is a section on the line VI-VI of Figure 5.

Figures 7 and '7 show in plan portions of the locking gear and switching mechanism.

Figures 8 and 8' show, in part sectional elevation, the locking gear at the two ends of the turntable, and

Figure 9 is a sectional detail of the stop on an enlarged scale.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the main track comprises a rigid double overhead main track A, A and B, B and a corresponding rigid lower main track a, a and 22, b a gap being formed between the tracks A, A and B, B and corresponding lower tracks. Located in said gap is a turntable I carrying a double curved 50 track E, E A double branch track C, C with corresponding lower track 0, c terminates at the turntable in proximity to the tracks B. B and b, b respectively and a second double branch track D, D with corresponding lower track (1, d

55 may terminate at the other side of the turntable in proximity to the tracks A, A and a, (1 respectively. The termini of the main tracks and also the. termini of the two branch tracks are at opposite sides of the turntable, and the centre lines of all said tracks, when produced, meet at the centre of the turntable. The centre lines of the double track B, B and branch track C, C should be equidistant from a line passing through the. centre of the main double tracks A, A and centre 0f the turntable. Similarly, the centre lines 10 of the double tracks A, A and D, D should be equidistant from the line passing through the centre of the double tracks B, B and the centre of the turntable. The centre lines of the double tracks B, B and C, C may, for example, make an angle of about 34 to each other and the centre lines of the double tracks A, A and D, D make a similar angle. The curved tracks E and E are not centrally disposed on the turntable but are offset from the centre of rotation, and the curvature thereof is such that the fixed tracks, A, B, C and D are tangential thereto when registering therewith.

The turntable l as set forth in British patent specification No. 323,391, may be mounted on a stationary circular track 3 provided on a stationary platform 4 consisting of beams and girders carried by columns 5 suitably braced together. The turntable is arranged to turn about a central pivot 6 secured to the stationary platform. The turntable carries the movable overhead curved tracks E, E and lower curved tracks e, e and comprises preferably four bogies or end carriages l with the axes of their wheels lying radially with respect to the said central pivot 6, all the bogies being braced together so that they can be turned without any relative displacement. The bracings are continued to a central casting B or like member which engages with the central pivot.

The remainder of the moveable structure consists of girders I0 supporting the overhead tracks E, E and supported in their turn by a braced structure depending from trestles I I carried by girders l2 spanning and tying the bogies I, the

trestles being braced by ties [3 to the bottom of the moveable structure.

It is necessary that the turntable be locked in position when the curved tracks carried thereby connect any two tracks together, and. in order to, 50..

efiect this a motor [5 (Figure 4) is mounted upon the girder l0 and is provided with a worm l6 which drives a worm wheel or disc crank H. A brake drum [8 is also mounted thereon which may be provided with a solenoid operated brake.

The worm wheel I! is provided with a slot IS in which a crank pin 20 is located so as to be locked at any desired distance from the centre, to give the desired throw. To the crank pin is adjustably connected a connecting rod 2| which is pivotally connected to a lever arm 22 keyed to a short shaft 23 (Figure 7*) on the other end of which is also fixed a three armed lever 24, 25, 26. A similar lever is provided at the other end of the turntable and the arms 24 and 26 are connected with one another respectively by adjustable tie rods 21 connected to intermediate bell crank levers 28. The arm 25 is connected by a rod 29 to a lever 30 secured to the shaft 3| on each end of which is secured a lever 32. The lever 32 (Figures 7, 7, 8 and 8 is connected by a rod 33 to a horizontal rod 34 guided in the fixed channel 35 and connected at its other end to the movable channel 36.

A slot 31 is cut in each end of the channels supporting the rails E and in each of these slots is located a locking member 38 secured by suit able means to the channel 36. Each member 38 is adapted when moved to slide into a similar slot 39 provided in each of the channels supporting the fixed rails when the motor |5 operates the disc crank Three switches V are provided upon the two channels 36 and 42 which are closed when the rails are locked together and one switch W on the channels 35 and 36 which is closed when the rails are unlocked. This switch W is so connected up that the motors on the bogies cannot be operated for turning the turntable when the rails are locked. The switches V are for signalling purposes.

The motor IE only rotates in one direction and the rails are locked or unlocked at the two dead centres of the disc crank One or more of the bogies is provided with a motor 41 and which when its switch 49 is closed rotates the turntable until the fixed stop 4|] mounted upon the channel 36 has engaged with and tripped up the hinged stop 4| mounted upon the channel 42 secured to the fixed rails. The stop 4| is returned to its normal position by the spring 43. The motors are then reversed until the stop 40 engages the stop 4| in which position the locking member 38 is shot home by the operation of the motor I5 which moves the moveable channels 36 outwards. This results in opening switch W, and thereby interrupting the circuit of motor 41 and stopping the rotation of the turntable, and it also results in the switches V being closed. The stops 40, 4| give a positive alignment of the rails and the stop 48 is provided with a single pole switch 44 (Figure 9) operated by the hinged tongue 45, where this makes contact with the stop 4|. The switch is kept in this open position normally by means of a spring 46. The switch closes a relay circuit 48 and consequently the motor l5 can only be op erated when the two stops 40 and 4| are in engagement, thus ensuring that the rails can only be locked when they are in alignment. When the motor 5 is again set in operation to withdraw the moveable channels 36 switch W is again closed so that motor 4! can be rotated to rotate the turntable.

To prevent overloading of the motors when the stops make contact and bring the turntable to a sudden stop any suitable means may be incorporated in connection with the motors whereby a predetermined torque cannot be exceeded.

By these improvements the turntable can be moved so that the curved track E, E in the position illustrated forms a through connection with the main track A, A and the branch track C, C and by rotating the turntable clockwise about 163 to another position the curved track provides a through connection with the main track A, A and B, B By rotating the turntable further, about another 163 the branch tracks B, B is placed in communication with the branch track D, D. When the tracks of the turntable place the fixed tracks in through communication the car can pass right through without stopping. That is, the turntable acts as a switch by means of which the car can be switched from the main track to either of two branch tracks as may be desired, and vice versa. Further, the car can be switched without stopping from or to one of said branch tracks to or from a third track or siding.

By the aforesaid locking means the turntable is effectively locked when in the desired position.

In lieu of such mechanically operated locking means, however, the turntable may be electromagnetically operated, thus the locking member 38 may be operated by a solenoid, or again, the locking member 38 may be an electro-magnet which when energized adheres to another member on the fixed rails thus locking the two rails together.

It is to be understood that the usual signal locking arrangements and other safety devices may be provided whereby the signals or other devices are set at danger when the track is open and not in register with the turntable, or the turntable cannot be operated when the signals are at danger.

What I claim is:-

In an overhead railway a main track, a turntable introduced in a gap in the track, a branch track terminating at said turntable, a curved track carried by the turntable, which, when the turntable is in one position, bridges the gap in the main track and when in another position bridges the gap between one end of the main track and the end of the branch track, the curvature of the curved track being such that the tracks in register therewith are tangential thereto, an abutment carried by the turntable, a pivoted trip over which said abutment trips when the turntable is rotated in one direction, and against which the abutment is thereafter brought to bear by rotating the turntable in the opposite direction to ensure accurate registering of the tracks, an electric motor to rotate the turntable, locking means to lock the turntable, an electric motor to operate the locking means, a switch closed by the co-operation of said abutment and trip when said turntable is rotated in said opposite direction, by which the circuit including the motor which operates the locking means is closed, and a switch operated by the locking means and by means of which the motor which rotates the turntable is stopped when the locking means is brought into operation.

' HUGH FRASER. 

